Donations of Books and Other Research Materials

Information for Prospective Donors

Donors contribute significantly to strengthening the collections and fulfilling the mission of the Duke University Libraries through their financial support and their gifts of books, manuscripts and other library materials, which are an indispensable resource for the teaching and research activities of Duke University. Library staff will evaluate potential gifts in terms of institutional value and consider whether materials support the collection development goals for a particular subject area when assessing a gift.

For information on donating your collection to Duke University Libraries, check our FAQ. If you have more questions, contact:

As required by law, you must establish the fair market value of an item contributed to a charity, but a formal appraisal is not always necessary. Appraisals must be done before the gift is transferred to the library.

You must file IRS Form 8283 if you claim a deduction for non-cash gifts totaling more than $500 within a calendar year. If your gift is valued at more than $5,000, you must get an appraisal by a qualified independent appraiser.

University policy prevents Duke University Libraries from supplying appraisals to donors. To locate an independent appraiser nationwide consult The American Book Trade Directory. The current edition is housed in the Reference Collection (Ref Desk Z475 .A447)